Audemars Piguet has named as its new CEO, replacing François-Henry Bennahmias, who told the industry last year that he would be leaving in 2023 after 30 years in the company, ten as its chief executive.
Ilaria Resta becomes the first female CEO of a top 10 Swiss watch brand, and has never worked in the industry.
She takes up the role in August, and AP says Mr Bennahmias will remain fully engaged until the end of 2023 to help with an orderly transition of leadership with the next CEO.
Ms Resta, who lives near Geneva, is a Swiss-Italian national with more than 26 years of international experience in building global brands, most recently as president of global perfumery & ingredients and member of the executive team at Firmenich, said to be the world’s largest privately-owned perfume company.
Firmenich is on track to generate sales of around CHF 5 billion in its current financial year.
Audemars Piguet’s turnover is thought to be in the region of CHF 2 billion.
In her LinkedIn profile, Ms Resta says she built her career on a lifelong passion for beauty, fragrances and brand building.
During over 23 years at Procter & Gamble, she continues, she built iconic brands such as Tide, Ariel, Fairy, Swiffer, Duracell, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences and Aussie, across Europe, Middle-East, China and North America.
Alessandro Bogliolo, chairman of Audemars Piguet, says he is delighted to welcome Ms Resta as the company’s new CEO.
“A visionary leader with a passion for craftsmanship, Ilaria will take Audemars Piguet into the future as we continue to develop our brand, blend tradition with innovation, and strengthen our direct connection to clients,” he continues. “Her proven record of delivering results through a clear strategic thinking based on deep consumer insights will keep AP’s legacy relevant for generations to come and ensure long lasting growth.”
On her leadership experience and style, Mr Bogliolo adds: “Ilaria’s belief in the empowerment of teams and her accomplishments as an inspirational leader in corporate sustainability fully align with Audemars Piguet’s long-standing values as an independent family-owned company.
Mr Bogliolo also expresses his gratitude for the contribution of Mr Bennahmias over the past thirty years.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to thank François for his three decades of service. His transformational leadership has been essential in building the success story AP is today. We are grateful for his indelible contribution and his commitment to stay until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition,” he says.
Hello.
Too bad you chose top 10 brands. Had you selected top 15, you could have honored Catherine Rénier from JLC, which if I am not mistaken is ranked 12th, therefore very close to top 10.